wvgal30

Hello all! My History: I was banded Oct 29, 2008. I have lost 22 pounds. I feel like this isn't enough and am getting ashamed to be seen by the people that know I have been banded. I have had 2 fills which brings me to 5 cc in my Realize band. I started exercising vigoriously 2 weeks ago at 1 hour a day x3 days - which is quite a turn around from what I had been doing...mostly sitting all day. In this 2 weeks I have only lost 4 pounds....which bums me out...but nevertheless...I am going to keep on doing it because I feel a difference even with the 4 pounds. My last fill was not quite a week ago - I am finding more foods are harder to tolerate - so I do feel a difference with the feel. I hurt when I don't chew well enough, etc. My questions are: 1. I have never PBd or slimed. When I am stuck....I hurt....it feels like a spasm. My instinct is to stand up for some reason...and arch my back - dunno why...but it seems to semi-relieve it. here is the ? - How do I know when I am full if I don't PB or slime. Is there something that happens when you shouldn't take another bite? Am I getting it all wrong - There are times when I should push back the plate...but I don't....I want something to happen, whether it be PB or slime, when I SHOULD NOT take another bite. What are your symptoms of fullness? Will I ever slime or PB? 2. I asked my doc this...his response was trust the process - I have never gotten a straight answer - tell me your thoughts: If you chew and take small bites so as not to get stuck - food goes through the pouch right? Well...how do you get that full feeling any quicker than the non-banded person if no food is staying in the pouch - because if food stayed in the pouch...you would be stuck right? Does this make any sense? Anyway, I am trying to work with my band nowadays and the scale did move 4 pounds. I admit I was someone who expected it to be easy - now I am trying to do my part and exercise....but I don't see how this is any different than dieting....I don't see it any easier either When I reach the "sweet spot" I read about - what will it feel like? I already can't hardly eat a bananna w/o it hurting! Will I ever only be able to eat half a sandwhich? What happens that tells you to stop at a half?

Hello, I was banded Oct 29, 2008 and I have lost only 16 pounds and that was the first 3 weeks. I have had 1 fill of 3 cc in my Realize Band. Since the fill I have lost nothing. I will tell you - I have not been dieting per se, I have been trying portion control - yet having whatever I want so as not to sabotage myself into thinking in diet-mode. I haven't been exercising - and I do realize that this would definitely make a difference in weight loss. I have started on wii fit..but not consistantly yet. I am scheduled for another fill Jan 20. I don't mind losing weight slowly...but people are still asking me if I had my surgery yet...and now...it is getting a little embarrassing saying ...yep...2-1/2 months ago! I have felt a difference with the fill, i.e., I have had some painful feelings (almost spasms) when I forget to chew well or take too big of a bite. My question is: If you are to chew well and to take small bites so as not to get stuck - yet you want food to stay in the pouch so as not to feel hungry...how is this possible? If food is flowing through the pouch and not staying in it....how does one feel full? Is there something I am missing here? How does it work to get the band tightened - how does this help if food does not stay in the pouch? I am sure there is an explaination for this...please someone explain it to me so that I won't lose all hope. Thus far, I have just been telling myself that I have not hit the "sweet spot" I read about. When one hits this sweet spot - does it make you able to eat significantly less? Right now, I don't stop eating when I should...and there really isn't a symptom that I have which signals me to stop. When I am filled to my personal sweet spot - will something happen to let me know that I am full? I don't expect to lay around and lose weight...I am willing to work at it and use the band as a tool as it was designed. I am just the type of personality that if I think I am dieting...I will sabotage myself. I have also been on diet pills off and on for years and I have this theory that if you are not starving - you are not losing weight....so I would like not eat all day and eat 1 meal at dinner....I want to lose the healthy way - I want this to work and I want to help it help me...I just don't understand how it works if food is going through the pouch. I probably should have thought of this before getting banded LOL! Anyway, could someone explain the concept to me? I am going to start counting calories on the daily plate and start little by ever so little doing a bit more exercise daily. I am willing to work, I am willing to change my ways, and I am okay with losing slowly yet healthy. Thanks for reading and TIA for any input you have on this!